Bio

Louis Wagner was born in Prussia, but details about his early life are unclear. He moved to America and ended up living in the fishing community on Smuttynose Island in Maine. There, he shared a home with six Norwegian immigrants, including Maren Hontvet, her sister Karen, and her brother Ivan along with his wife Anethe. During the summer months, Wagner helped the family, working as a fisherman in exchange for room and board. At that time, he was known to suffer from rheumatism, which required care from the women in the household.

About six months before the tragic events on Smuttynose Island, Louis Wagner left the island and moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He lived in a boarding house on Water Street, where he struggled financially. He often complained about his poverty and the state of his clothing. Locals noted that he was behind on rent and lived hand-to-mouth, taking on work as available. He expressed a desire for Anethe, one of the women who had once taken care of him.

In 1873, the fishing community was changing. Wealthy tourism began to grow along the coast. The family, living on the Isle of Shoals, represented a fading chapter of a history that had included rugged fishing families since the early 1600s. The community had once thrived, but it was beginning to disappear as the focus shifted to tourism.

Amidst these changes, rumors circulated about Wagner's character. He told stories about a "wicked man" from his homeland who had stolen from a family he lived with, hinting at his own potential for wrongdoing. Many locals knew him as a fisherman, but few trusted him, given his mind for crime and poverty.

The Hontvet family continued their fishing business, while Wagner’s fortunes kept dwindling. His transition from island life to the mainland mirrored the broader changes in the fishing community marked by both prosperity and decay.

Murder Story

On March 6, 1873, Louis Wagner murdered two women, Anethe Christensen and Karen Christensen, on Smuttynose Island in York County, Maine. Wagner had previously lived with the victims and their family during the summer. On the night of the murders, Maren Hontvet, a third woman who was present, hid from Wagner while he attacked her sister and sister-in-law.

Maren escaped to seek help early the next morning. She waved her skirt and shouted, attracting the attention of children on nearby Appledore Island. An older man, Mr. Ingebretson, rowed to Smuttynose and discovered Karen and Anethe's bodies. They had both suffered severe injuries, with Anethe found in the kitchen and Karen in another area of the house.

Louis Wagner was arrested later that same day at a hotel in Boston. Evidence indicated that he had borrowed a boat to reach the island and had used an ax in the attacks. The bodies were found partially undressed, and there were signs of struggle in the house. The items missing included a small amount of cash, while a button belonging to Karen was discovered in Wagner's pocket.

During the trial, Maren identified Wagner as the killer. Witnesses testified about his behavior before and after the murders. Wagner denied the charges and claimed he was innocent, but the evidence was strongly against him. He was found guilty of murder in the first degree after a short deliberation by the jury.

Wagner was sentenced to death and was hanged on June 25, 1875. His trial received extensive media coverage, and despite the evidence, some still doubted his guilt. His execution marked the end of a case that had captivated the public for over two years.